2nd Grade Teacher: Anne Marie
Happy Teacher Interview Thursday!
Today I have Anne from Teaching Tiny Humans on Instagram (of course!). I love Anne’s content and fun ideas from positive reinforcements to activities that go along with read aloud’s. Here is Anne’s interview:
1. What did you want to be when you were growing up?
When I was really young I had wanted to be a dolphin trainer, as I got older I knew I had wanted to be a teacher! My brother has Aspergers and I did a lot of work with students with autism (best buddies and the miracle league).
2. Is there a moment that sticks out to you that you remember from school with a teacher you had growing up?
I had a teacher in high school who really pushed hard to show me all of the strengths I had, I had an IEP and always felt really stupid, it wasn't until she showed me my strengths and how I learned best is when I realized I needed her throughout my whole life! It would always dumbfound me when the teacher would say, "oh I haven't read your IEP yet, I wanted to know you first!" well, if you read it you would know me!
3. How long have you been teaching, what country/state do you teach in, what do you teach, and what did it take for you to get there?
This is my 3rd year in a full-time position but before that, I completed a student-teacher in 3rd, then a long term sub in special ed, then a long term sub in third. Then a kindergarten long term sub, then a student teaching in special ed as part of my masters. I currently teach in Massachusetts in a 2nd-grade position. This is my 1st year in 2nd, the last 2 years I worked as a special educator for grades K-6. I had needed to pass these teacher licensure tests called the MTELS in order to complete my student teaching and get certified. It actually took me a long time and I didn't pass some of them the first times I took them. But, here I am now! I loved special ed but the paperwork was awful and I had little to no prep-time and I didn't want to keep sacrificing my time at home (Plus I didn't get to teach as much as I wanted!)
4. What is your go-to tool you use in the classroom and why?
So many! I love Flocabulary as it is musical and helps reinforce concepts we are working on.
5. What is your favorite visual tool to use in the classroom to help accommodate work/lessons for students and why?
I don't really have a visual, after working in SPED the last two years, I just remember each of my student's strengths and what they need to access the curriculum. I have a lot of posters connected to our reading program as visuals for reading strategies and the syllable types we are working on. I also use a lot of technology that has the option to read aloud to them. I also make sure each part of my lessons has the following:
A movement
A drawing/ writing
Technology piece
Only sitting for 10 minutes
A video and/or a book
Check-out ticket/ activity
6. I see you made the switch from special education to 2nd grade, what inspired the change?
I slightly answered that above, the paperwork was holding me back and my boss was not forgiving about it, which sucks because I loved teaching special ed, but I knew for my own sanity I needed to get out. I'm hoping in the future at my school that the special educator and I will co-teach and students won't have to leave the classroom if my lessons are accommodating and every student can access them. I know some students need to be pulled out, but I think there is a lot we can do as classroom teachers to target and support students. My school does not USE RTI though so we go straight through to evaluating a student, I'm hoping to change that in Gen Ed.
7. Any advice for a new teacher you wish you had known?
Ask for help, use TPT, don't recreate the wheel. It is fun to make new activities but your time is precious and someone else has probably already made it.
8. A lot of people have been saying they hope things start to change in education since this Pandemic, do you think anything will change from it?
Nothing, I think it will take even more time for things to start changing. I'm hoping prep time will change and increase to salaries given the amount of prep we need!
9. Last but not least, where do you see yourself in ten years?
I think I still want to be a general educator, in lower elementary but not at my school. I am working in the same town I grew up in and my fiance and I would love to move.
Thank you for the interview Anne!
Happy Teaching :)